Former British detective Mark Williams-Thomas has flown to Tenerife to assist in the search for missing teenager Jay Slater.
The seasoned investigator, known for his involvement in high-profile cases such as Nicola Bulley’s disappearance, was seen on the island where 19-year-old apprentice bricklayer Jay was last spotted.
Williams-Thomas reportedly reached out to Jay’s mother, Debbie Duncan, aged 55, on Sunday, offering his expertise at no cost, and is now dedicated to uncovering the truth behind Jay’s mysterious disappearance.
Before being taken on by the family, Williams-Thomas expressed confidence in his ability to deliver swift results, stating: “Having feet on the ground and looking at the scenario and circumstances, I know I will get to the bottom of this in three days.
“I would quickly be able to establish whether or not there are suspicious circumstances – but I’d need total access to everything and to speak to all the witnesses involved.”
He added: “If the family work with me, I will get them answers. It is crucial for the family. It is difficult for them, dealing with foreign police who handle it differently. But I’d need their full cooperation, I’d need to speak to every witness involved; those that he’s been with since he’s been on the island. Some people will be more persons of interest than others.”
Mr Williams-Thomas, a former family liaison officer and detective turned leading TV investigator, was the lead sleuth on the ITV Exposure documentary, The Other Side of Jimmy Savile, which exposed the late BBC presenter’s systematic and disturbing exploitation of young and vulnerable girls, reports the Mirror.
He reportedly arrived on the Spanish island late Monday night, coinciding with the day Jay’s family shared a potential new sighting photo and his father made a heartfelt plea for assistance in bringing him home. The blurry image was taken by CCTV at 6pm last Monday a full 10 hours after the 19-year-old’s last confirmed location four miles uphill in the mountain village of Masca.
Yesterday, the search area was expanded to include other parts of the municipality where the teenager was last spotted, with Civil Guard officers confirming that forest trails and tracks north of his last known location are now under scrutiny. Police and fire officers also continued their search of three separate ravines including one where it is believed Jay’s phone last “pinged” shortly after he vanished on Monday, June 17.
Before his disappearance, Jay had been enjoying the New Rave Generation festival in southwest Tenerife. He is believed to have left the event with two British men to return to their holiday rental, situated over 20 miles from the apartment in Los Cristianos where he was staying with his best friend Lucy Law, 18, and another companion.
On Monday morning, he made a desperate call to Lucy, informing her that he was stranded in the middle of nowhere, attempting to return home with no water and his phone battery at a mere 1 percent. Tragically, it’s believed his mobile phone died shortly after, at 8.50am.
Speaking on Sunday, Mr Williams-Thomas expressed urgency: “It’s a week on now – I need to get on the ground and get them answers. It’s about finding Jay. I come with credibility, will work with them and Spanish police, and get them the answers they need.”
He continued: “We need to establish what the involvement is with these two guys [he stayed with], why he went back to the Airbnb and then why just leave? The chances of him wandering off are possible, but is there more to this?”